Following the announcement of its TEP Implementation Plan in June of 2007, BCTC continues to advance efforts for bringing forward projects under the provisions of TEP consistent with the Government’s Special Direction No. 9.
On December 12, 2007, BCTC filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application for approval to incur capital expenditures associated with the thermal upgrade of transmission circuits 5L51 and 5L52 (the Thermal Upgrade Project). The Thermal Upgrade Project application is BCTC’s first application for a project to be advanced under BCTC’s TEP and is currently undergoing BCUC regulatory processes. Earlier in February, BCTC filed responses to BCUC and intervener Information Requests and BCTC’s final reply written submission is due by March 14, 2008. A decision from the BCUC is anticipated in the F2009 Q1 timeframe. The Thermal Upgrade Project Application can be viewed on BCTC’s website.
In addition to bringing forward the first TEP project, BCTC continues efforts to identify and evaluate other potential candidate projects for advancement under the TEP. Following an open Request for Information in summer 2007, BCTC received submissions for and is considering a number of TEP projects that fall under two broad categories: (a) projects that reinforce or expand the transmission system in areas with potential for significant new generation; and (b) projects that create opportunities for increased trade or wheeling activities. For more information on these projects, please see Section 7 of the Thermal Upgrade Project Application on BCTC’s website.
As outlined at the October 18, 2007 stakeholder workshop, BCTC’s intention is to evaluate candidate TEP projects to enable them to be considered, subject to due process and business case justification, in BCTC’s next capital planning cycle. This is still BCTC’s intention; however the scope and diversity of the candidate TEP projects has warranted additional time requirements to complete their preliminary assessment and is causing BCTC to run behind schedule in setting the date of the next stakeholder workshop, as initially contemplated.
Also per stakeholder discussions, BCTC is proceeding with setting up of a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that will aid the evaluation of TEP projects. Proposed Draft Terms of Reference for the TEP TAC were discussed at the Transmission Planning Advisory Committee (TPAC) meeting on February 21, 2008.
BCTC is continuing its preliminary assessment of TEP project submissions. Once this assessment is complete, BCTC will hold a stakeholder workshop to seek feedback on the assessment and determine the requirements for next process steps.